Descriptions of the Nagual (Nagual Lone Wolf)

[quantumshaman]

I think modern day warriors have what is best referred to as "empathy" - essentially a bit different than compassion.  Whereas compassion might be defined as as "co-passion" (sharing of passion, therefore sharing of "feeling"), empathy is simply an awareness that enables the warrior to better adhere to "the right way to live." Empathy can inform the warrior that, for example, there is no difference between the life of a feral cat and her kittens than the life of a human mother and her child.  Both are just entities struggling to get through their day, and the manner in which I conduct myself may affect the outcome (whether human or animal).  Empathy tells me that all things want to live and so I am able to put myself in their position.  Compassion, on the other hand, CAN have the tendency to make me feel "sorry" for other beings, but not necessarily give me any real reason to alter my behaviours.  Empathy is such that when we FEEL what another being feels, we automatically make more humane (i.e., empathic) choices.
To some, this may seem just a case of semantics, but strictly speaking, warriors need to be empaths.  Compassion is for ordinary men, beause it is little more than lip service.  Empathy is compassion in put into action.